EDUC 500 - Research Methodology in Education

Step 1. Choosing your topic + developing your question

• Centered around your chosen topic

Step 2. Keyword selection

• Subject headings, preferred terms, synonyms, abbreviations, acronyms, variant spellings, scientific names vs. colloquial names, etc.
• Use database thesauri to find preferred terms and subject headings
• Searching in Google can often help to identify synonyms that are commonly used

Step 3. Scope

Questions to consider before selecting limiters:

1. Are there certain countries of publication you are focusing on? Certain languages of publication? 
2. Is there a date range you are looking to discuss and does this impact the range of literature you want to review? 
3. Are you looking for all types of literature - published, grey literature, peer-reviewed, books, articles, etc.? 

Applying common limiters:

• Date range - e.g. past 10 years
  • Note - since we are in early 2016, you may want to go 11 years or pick a firm start year
• Peer-review
• Language

Complex search tips:

1. Boolean Logic: 
   • 
2. Truncation:
   • ​Using the root of the word – add an * at the end to bring back all endings
3. Phrase Searching:
   • Use quotations around more than one word
   • Note: doesn't function in all databases

Step 4. Select Search Locations + Step 5. Searching

Searching for journal articles, theses/dissertations, conference proceedings, reports, etc.:

1. Try reviewing subject/research guides in your appropriate areas to see which databases are suggested. 
2. Review the UBC Library list of databases
   • Can narrow by subject area, although not always comprehensive
3. Consult with your professor and/or supervisor(s) for suggested resources

Searching for books and items not found in databases:

1. Use Summon, the general library search tool, to look for print and e-books available through the library
   • Summon can also be used to find related materials in databases that may have been outside of your original plan. 

Document Delivery - bring in Vancouver library materials

InterLibrary Loan - bring in materials from other institutions

Suggest a Book Form - have a title you would like to see in the library?